A battle between two teams not playing very well went the wrong way for the Calgary Flames, as the Columbus Blue Jackets rode a first period goal to a 3-1 win on Tuesday night. It drops Calgary to a new season low, four games below .500 with a Thursday game against the Dallas Stars to finish off a three game road trip.

WHAT HAPPENED

It didn't start well for the Flames, as Jakub Voracek opened things up with a nice individual effort at 5:14. Grabbing the puck in the right corner, Voracek went on a little bit of a walk and found some open ice in the high slot area, where he wired a shot past Calgary goalie Henrik Karlsson. It was Voracek's sixth of the season and the Jackets would carry their one goal lead into the second period.

After a fairly even start to the middle frame, the Jackets would score at even strength once again, this time on a goal mouth scramble. After Tom Sestito put the puck on net from close range, Boll would follow up by pushing the puck past from the crease area, and the Jackets would take a 2-0 lead at 11:18 of the second.

Karlsson would make some big stops in the second period, including a real nice glove save to thwart a golden Columbus chance, and the Flames would finally got on the board late in the period. On the powerplay, Jarome Iginla showed some nice patience on the left half boards before firing a nice cross ice pass to Olli Jokinen; he'd make no mistake from the right circle to get Calgary within one, and after 40 the Flames were down 2-1.

It was the 18th time this season the Flames would find themselves down after two periods of play, and they'd get some push at times in the final frame. Calgary generated a few opportunities, and caught a break late in the third thanks to a bench minor on Columbus for too many men.

They would be unable to tie the game up though, unsuccessful on a key powerplay and didn't do much once they pulled their goalie for an extra man. After a few times being unsuccessful gaining the zone, Jackets defenceman Rostislav Klesla banked the puck off the glass and the puck found it's way into the empty Calgary net to seal the game, and seal Calgary's third straight loss.

ONE GOOD REASON

...why the Flames lost? Because they just didn't have enough. I'm sure the fatigue of back-to-back games played it's part, but all teams play games on consecutive nights, so it's not a viable excuse. They just looked flat for too much of this hockey game, and didn't generate enough at even strength.

Not taking credit away from the Jackets, because they played their game well, but this is a team Calgary should be able to generate on...yet it was the Columbus fourth line generating at even strenght and not enough of Calgary's offensive players. The likes of Rene Bourque, Curtis Glencross and Brendan Morrison were no good and well under water in the scoring chance count, and 11 chances at even strength isn't going to get it done.

RED WARRIOR

I don't know, why not - Olli Jokinen. I'm thinking of just disolving this particular part of the postgame. He scored a goal, because he shot the puck...and yeah, he made you drop a few four letter words tonight, as he usually does, but at least he scored. No one else did.

SUM IT UP

The team is four games below .500 for the first time this season, and they have one more game before the Christmas break. The Head Coach continues to say "stay the course" and that's all he can really say...but the fact of the matter is, they just aren't playing well enough on a game in, game out basis. Stay what course?

Pat Steinberg is the host of Calgary Flames Hockey and The Big Show on Sportsnet 960 The FAN. He likes advanced stats more than most other radio guys, but knows less about them than most of you reading right now. Follow Pat on Twitter @Fan960Steinberg.

not sure why so many people are pretending to be me. i am the real hal a pena. what does everyone think about trading hagman to NYR for a nice package of young players. im thinking hagman and regehr for callahan and dubinsky. time to rebuild begins now. also time for a new gm i think that we need to fire darryl and pick up bob gainey he did a great job rebuilding montreal

...dude. Just sign up for an account then no one can use your "handle". But yet again, rediculous trade proposal. Callahan and Dubinsky are both in their early 20's and are having great years the for NYR. There is no way Sather does that deal.

...and oh ya, it was YOU making all those other rediculous trade proposals, NOT some "handle" theif. Get real dude. Just watch alot of hockey and try and school yourself up a bit. It's no big deal. Again, not a hockey snob, just trying to help as much as I can.

Yes!!!! As things stand now, each loss is actually a win. A real win is just a pyrhic victory (is that how you spell that? #*$#in Greek words).

The real race is not between us and the other 14 teams in the conference, but us and the Islander and Devils.

Today was a step in the right direction.

We need a top 3 pick in the draft this year, and need to trade Iggy for some blue-chip prospects. That way, at least we have a future to look forward to.

Iggy also deserves better than enduring yet another rebuild phase.

Lose, Flames, Lose!!!!! (And I mean that in a nice way)

wow already playing for last place... ouch! Not the worst idea I guess, but with the flames luck Daz will trade away his 1st round pick in an effort to unload some salary at the deadline... and with no second round pick, and with 2011 lining up to be not the deepest drafts we've witnessed in the past few years, this isn't the time for this team to pretend to be rebuilding. But hey, when life gives you lemons...

Dutter sure built a intertaining team.lol.This has 2 be the most boring team to watch in the new nhl.Flames management have lost there minds 2 keep the dutter.I have been a flames fan my whole life but i`am done with these losers.

The Sutters need to thank their lucky stars for the Christmas freeze or they may be gone. We all understand and think why Darryl should be gone but we are about 50/50 with Brent. Here is my thoughts on why the coach should pack it in as well.
Reasons why a coach is let go: not living up to expectations and not getting the most out of the players.
When Mike Keenan was fired it was said that was the reason. With Brent, the team is not living up to expectations and it appears he is not getting the most out of his players.
Sucessful coaches can A) motivate players to play better, B)coach to the teams strengths and improve them and/or C)get the players to "buy in" to a system or style. Jacques Lemaire was able to get the Wild to "Buy in" why because they werent good enough. This team, has certain strengths but the coach is trying to push a different system and not playing off the strengths. Because he has not been able to consistantly motivate his players, has had the team regress and not coach to their strengths/or buy in that is why I feel Brent should be let go.

Flames would probably have to throw in a roster player of some sort, but yeah something like that.

Of course, Yzerman is no dummy and he learned under Holland who subscribes to the "don't overpay for goaltending" strategy. Maybe Philly would be a better target...

yzerman has been quoted as saying the best trades are sometimes the ones you dont make. they do have some goalie issues,. philly hasn't had a bonafide cup tender since pelle lindbergh. bob clarke was such a popular gm that onebody would trade him a goalie.what comes the other way from philly?

as crazy as it sounds, the quickest way to a rebuild may be entertaining offers on gio. contract kicks in next year and he is a very capable dman for a true contender.at 27 he may be an old man in hockey years by the end of the rebuild that begins 2 years away if you stay the course as so often mentioned.

i agree with some of the other flames fans, trade all your assets while they are worth something, this team sucks and id real boring to watch, fire all sutters and ken king. get some grit and heart and young prospects. this team is pathetic and i cant believe no one fires sutter yet

Boys, mark my words. Kipper will not be traded. I used to dream of a blockbuster Kipper trade, as well. However, with three years remaining on his contract (at 5.8 mill per), and an ever-growing tendency to let in bad goals during key moments of a game, he will not garner much. The cap, Kipper's declining performance, and the number of years left on his contract all collude to prevent a momentous trade from happening.

Philly would want to offload an anchor of their own in exchange, and I doubt they would offer much more than a first in return.

Downie is the kind of player the Flames need: physical, hard-working, with offensive upside (he's only 22, I believe). But Yzerman would want Calgary to take a bad contract in return, although they would probably throw in a first if the Flames were game.

The Oilers will pass this group soon, if they go on a run, which a young team like the Oilers probably will. We'll sit at the bottom of the conference soon.

We are in the midst of a season-ending losing streak. We cannot win the big games.

I believe the players like the coach. Probably the GM. But they'd all rahter be winning. Well, most of them, anyways.

I say sack King, Darryl and Brent. Either give Playfair the team, or find a young coach like Kirk Muller - someone that can get the most out of players. Or a guy like Bob Boughner. Or what about John Hynes in Wilkes-Barre, Ray Edwards in San Antonio. Look at Colorado. Tampa. Pittsburgh. Look at these coaches. Look where hey came from. The AHL.

We need to go in this direction now. This evening.

I guess the other direction to go would be to "stay the course". The course, at the moment, leads to the basement. I know many of you want to end up there, to get a draft pick. But we need to find a good coach now. And a new GM. Dave McNabb comes to mind in Anaheim. But we'll probably run with Feaster, and continue to make bad moves.

McNabb wants to be a GM. I am ertain any of the AHL coaches, or guys like Muller, would do well here. It'd be a clean break, a fresh start.

Problem with my idea is, of course, salary. But I wouldn't move Iggy or Kipper. I'd keep Noodles as the goalie coach. The rest of the bench bosses would go.

This is our future. Karlsson and Irving may both be able to replace Kipper down the road as a tandem. There are some decent defencemen on the farm, not to mention Erixon. Howse is signed for three years. If we have a GM like McNabb, we pick up players like McNabb did. He's done well in Anaheim, and only signed a one year extension.

As much as I hate to say it, Iggy should be traded. He will give us the most value in return and for his sake go to a team with a chance at the Cup, he deserves it. Maybe when his contract is up in 2 years he'll take a pay cut and finish his career here and mentor our young players

Reggie will definitely garner a first rounder, and many teams would make the trade without any conditions attached (i.e. no bad contract going the other way).

Although a mid-to-late first rounder may not be a great return for our best D-man, the cap relief we would get would definitely be a bonus.

Plus, I believe many teams would trade a top 6 forward for Reggie straight up, but, if we are in rebuild mode, we should be careful as to the age of the prospective return.

But how about this: Montreal is rumoured to be in market for physical d-man. Why not Reggie for P.K. Subban? Subban has been having growing pains, but he's only twenty. I think it's a win-win for both teams.

No, they most definitely value him as a prospect, but at the same time, Reggie fits their need perfectly. A physical shut-down defender that can contain the power-forwards on other team, and provide punishment along the boards.

P.K Subban will not reach his potential for a couple of years yet, and provides nothing that will contribute to long playoff run.

"Stay the course" - poor guy, Pat, like you said - what else can he say.
Kerr and Boomer were talking about what teams need to offer their fans: they have to sell 1.Success or 2.Hope - I would say that if you cant offer 1 or 2, then I would add #3. Entertainment...unfortunately there hasnt been a lot of that lately either. Its a sad time for the team. Honestly, im not sure you would have a lot of trouble getting players to waive NTC's from a sinking ship - but what do I know, look at Kaberle (and the rest of the TO crew from a couple years ago)

as crazy as it sounds, the quickest way to a rebuild may be entertaining offers on gio. contract kicks in next year and he is a very capable dman for a true contender.at 27 he may be an old man in hockey years by the end of the rebuild that begins 2 years away if you stay the course as so often mentioned.

NOOOOOOOOOO~~~he's been the most entertaining and promising Flame of late!!

Yeah, Kotalik on a line that 'doesnt do so well' sounds about right. Poor Backlund, Just give him a few or more games with Iginla (At even strength) and see what he can do.

Give him a chance, Sure he might have a bad game here and there, But at even strength I'm sure he can do more than Jokinen.

Oh wait, Im Brent and no fun is to be had here. Angry face, Mikeal your going to play on the 3rd line and dont mess up... A nice warm seat in the Press Box and some extra buttery popcorn will be waiting!

Alright I gotta stop, a little too frustrated tonight.

On a side note, man I wish HBO did a couple of episodes on the Flames Montreal winter classic. I really wish we could see the intermission talks and the closed door meetings. I think it would bring some insight to us fans

Well, according to Robbie Kerr and P. Stein, the only way changes will be made is when/if apathy sets in. So if I'm hearing this corectly, Kenny King and all the owners would rather their home building empty, no merchandise sales, and talk shows be Flames free? In my line of work, I try to improve things before they get that bad, but what do I know, I'm not a rich oil tycoon. Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong.

I'd love to move Kipper, but it's going to be a tough sell to get anything of value for him at this point in his career.

I'd love a Kipper for Downie and a 1st, but I dont't think TB has the cap room (Yzerman also ain't that dumb)

Damn you Dutter!!!!

I doubt a Kipper deal is on the horizon (I could see him being the last man standing, as far as big money players here), but...

-I'd assume any deal with Tampa would need to include some $$ coming back (Ryan Malone?), along with pick/prospect. They have Gagne coming off the books after this season, but Stamkos needs a new deal... Cha-Ching!!

-A return to San Jose? Devin Setogouchi? Sharks would need to move more $$ (on top of Nittymaki's $2M).

The goalie market is vastly different than it was just a few years ago. I'm not sure you could get good value for Kipper.

Iginla & Regehr, however, should NOT finish the year here (and I love Iginla).